The where the F*ck did it all go wrong thread

[Millsy]

McCleary = best right winger in this division.

Blackman = one of best strikers in this division.

So what does he do? Not play McCleary but put Blackman in that position.

I mean, if we had no right winger and were desperate then yeah put a strker (not Blackmen) there. But we do have one of the division's best right wingers. And we are taking Blackman from his proven position to fill it instead. I just don't get it.

But that's just nitpicking.

To answer the question it went wrong when Fulham somehow came back to beat us.

Confidence burst.

Downhill from there.

[West Stand Man]

Well there must be a hundred reasons why we have turned from potential league winners to relegation candidates ?

Seriously, what are you talking about? We are on a bad run of form but 'relegation candidates' is jumping the gun a bit.

[genome]

Relegation is a bit silly, we're only a point off the play offs. The correct assertion would be we've gone from title-winning to lower mid-table form.

[Lacoste]

Everyone knows my opinion on Clarke.

It all went wrong when we hired him IMO. He has no managerial record to speak of and he has done an awful job with us.

His team building in the summer can be best summed up as unintelligent. He didn't go after the likes of John and Fernandez, he just hear they were available and took a punt, kid in a sweat shop stuff if you will. He bought in far to many loans, as Nigel Howe has stated and now he's in a position where he has to constantly rotate to keep everyone happy.

He goes on about the balance of the side, he built the side FFS. He is arrogant and thinks far to much of himself. I'm actually glad of the Fulham incident, it really just shows him for what he is,....a fraud. He's made his name on the back of managers he's worked UNDER in the past.

Difficult situation for Reading now. Sacking him costs us but realistically, i'd rather spend our January kitty on letting him go than letting this go on. His record is so so poor as a manager and I just don't know why some people still back him. He had two good months in a whole year.

Adkins needed to go but he was derided by a lot of our fans. He is more honest and talented than Clarke by a country mile.

Clarke out.

[RG7Fan]

To my mind it keeps coming back to the injuries: Quinn, Tish and HRK.
Yet a couple of months ago we were raving about the strength in depth of this squad. If the depth was that strong we would cope with the injuries.
Quinn is the most missed in my view. Especially as it seems to have resulted in Piazon "filling" the gap. Maybe Piazon would be good in a different role (that doesn't involve tracking back, tackling, marking, hassling, running, ..... , putting on a hooped football shirt and boots) but he isn't in this one. I'd play Quinn on crutches before Piazon.

Carrying the kit bags ...

[Turns8]

It wouldn't surprise me if this whole dip in form/Clarke speaking to Fulham saga is a rather cunning ploy by Clarke...

Probably was informed of the Fulham interest around the time of the whole second half shambles at Craven Cottage...then came out with all the excuses about injuries and the loans stifling how he wants to play etc...spoke to Fulham who were reluctant to pay the compensation plus Clarke's demands...now Clarke is just running us into the ground until he gets sacked...takes the money from us and the walks into the Fulham role...it seems odd how Fulham have gone from wanting to appoint someone quickly to now biding their time! almost as though something is in place it just needs some time for it to happen...really underhand from both Clarke and Fulham.

Also, let's face it Clarke's record even before he took over wasn't exactly great...he ran out of ideas at West Brom pretty quickly after the initial honeymoon period when he was still surfing on the crest of Hodgson's ideas..I just think he got his way in the summer and tried the massive rebuild...and the run of wins was down to catching opponents out with the way we were playing...international break gave opponents time to suss us out and the rest is history...Clarke soon realised it wasn't going to work and was beyond his ability...he's now wanting out as quick as possible...

As has been mentioned...I think Clarke should do the honourable thing and resign...however, this being football he's going to make us suffer and take every penny he can...utter joke...

[ayjaydee]

To my mind it keeps coming back to the injuries: Quinn, Tish and HRK.
Yet a couple of months ago we were raving about the strength in depth of this squad. If the depth was that strong we would cope with the injuries.
Quinn is the most missed in my view. Especially as it seems to have resulted in Piazon "filling" the gap. Maybe Piazon would be good in a different role (that doesn't involve tracking back, tackling, marking, hassling, running, ..... , putting on a hooped football shirt and boots) but he isn't in this one. I'd play Quinn on crutches before Piazon.

Carrying the kit bags ...

That's a bit unfair.

A full kit bag is very heavy!

[SCIAG]

McCleary = best right winger in this division.

Blackman = one of best strikers in this division.

So what does he do? Not play McCleary but put Blackman in that position.

I mean, if we had no right winger and were desperate then yeah put a strker (not Blackmen) there. But we do have one of the division's best right wingers. And we are taking Blackman from his proven position to fill it instead. I just don't get it.

Blackman's best performances for us, including every(?) goal he's scored this season, have come on the right wing.

[CountryRoyal]

Well there must be a hundred reasons why we have turned from potential league winners to relegation candidates ?

Seriously, what are you talking about? We are on a bad run of form but 'relegation candidates' is jumping the gun a bit.

20th in the form table on 5 points in the last 6, Birmingham 22nd with 4

[tmesis]

To answer the original question - when Steve Clarke had his head turned and pursued options elsewhere.

That would make sense if our form had dipped after that happened, but not when it started a few weeks before.

[Biscuitman62]

So we had a Cup run, got a sniff of relegation. The Boss chops off the heads of backroom staff (some of which were long serving) . Then he brings in 11 new players (1 of which cost over 2 million pounds to loan for a season). The new owners would surely needed a bit of persuasion on that. They back his judgement again. Then when offered the chance to speak to another club he does. Anybody with an ounce of responsibility would surely have knocked that back. The players will now see him for what he is, A complete and utter fraud. Do the decent thing Clarke, RESIGN

[sputnik]

relegation candidates

not sure if serious

[Oilroyal]

Clarke won't resign, we're all he has now.

His stock is pretty much worthless after his Fulham flirtation. Let's face it, the team have lost form, Clarke has lost over 50% of the supporters trust with most of us never being able or willing to trust him again. Every marginal loss or draw will be met with negativity toward Clarke. The owners can't trust him now and again let's be honest, would you want to move forward, invest, trust and work a man like Clarke.

It doesn't look good. I'm expecting a long drawn out messy divorce with Clarke holding out for his contractual pay off.

[Pepe the Horseman]

relegation candidates

not sure if serious

Think relegation form would be more accurate.

[Biscuitman62]

My resign post is more in hope than expectation. As someone previously posted, would rather any transfer kitty meant for January be spent on paying him off (If this is the only way) than letting this go on. Cant see a way forward under his stewardship. Get a new man in , then at least give him a chance to look at what he has at the club. Then he can do a bit of work in that window. (In and Out)

[CountryRoyal]

We have been pretty Cack since HRK, Quinn and Tishbola have been injured.

This....... and SC being unable to find a suitable way to play without them

Which is even more remarkable considering anyone with half a brain and a set of eyes can see whe play better with 4-3-3, and we still have 3 very capable, fit central midfielders.

The second half against Huddersfield, when Fernandez came on was the best we've played in recent weeks. It was still shit, but the benchmark is quite low.

[genome]

relegation candidates

not sure if serious

Think relegation form would be more accurate.

What does P6 W1 D2 L3 extrapol8 to over the course of a season?

[CountryRoyal]

What does P6 W1 D2 L3 extrapol8 to over the course of a season?

Has anyone ever survived the champion/division one on 40 points? Maybe by goal difference at a push, but beyond that not to my knowledge.

This is relegation form but we won't go down, but with this helm at the helm we're not going up either.

[Lower West]

To my mind it keeps coming back to the injuries: Quinn, Tish and HRK.
Yet a couple of months ago we were raving about the strength in depth of this squad. If the depth was that strong we would cope with the injuries.
Quinn is the most missed in my view. Especially as it seems to have resulted in Piazon "filling" the gap. Maybe Piazon would be good in a different role (that doesn't involve tracking back, tackling, marking, hassling, running, ..... , putting on a hooped football shirt and boots) but he isn't in this one. I'd play Quinn on crutches before Piazon.

Piazon is a no 10. SC is using him to plug a gap.

[Lower West]

McCleary = best right winger in this division.

Blackman = one of best strikers in this division.

The best are consistant performers. Neither are.

If Blackman were the best he'd be in the premiership by now.